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Fedotov was arrested in Moscow at the end of June and during a hearing at the Tagansky Court in the city this week a judge ordered that he should be held in custody for another month while further investigations are carried out into the case.

Sergey Fedotov

During the hearing, Fedotov insisted that Castle Grant was bought lawfully and said the purchase was modest as the castle was only worth the price of a small apartment in Moscow.

"At the time of purchase it cost 50million rubles (approx £600,000 at today's rate). The cost corresponds to the cost of a two bedroom apartment in the centre of Moscow."

Russian police started investigating Fedotov last year after concerns were raised about where he got the funds to buy the castle and other properties in the south of England.

He has been denied bail over fears he might flee to the UK despite his legal team's claims that he suffers from hypertension and diabetes.

Craig Whyte

His office and Moscow home were searched by police before he was brought in for questioning. The RAO is a non-governmental organization created in 1993 for collective management of author's rights and has more than 25,000 members.

A spokesman for the body denied any wrongdoing on the part of Fedotov.

He said: "RAO's General Director Sergei Fedotov and the organisation's other employees are fully cooperating with the investigation, helping it to find out the truth. We are sure that a qualified investigation will lead to establishing no wrongdoing in Sergei Fedotov's action."

Fedotov bought Castle Grant, on the outskirts of Grantown-on-Spey, in September, 2014, after it was repossessed by the Bank of Scotland. He told estate agents that he had grand refurbishment plans for the property after it fell into disrepair during Whyte's ownership.

Last summer he allowed the castle's grounds to be used for a massive banquet and concert to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of the town of Grantown.

Whyte bought it for £720,000 in 2006 but fell into arrears with the £7,000-a-month mortgage. The Bank of Scotland took legal action to recover it after his Ibrox reign ended.

He has been made bankrupt and is facing charges at the High Court over his takeover of the club.